“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corin. 13:11)
Discouragement is a disease unique to human beings and it’s universal — eventually everyone gets it. This disease can stop us in our tracks and prevent us from finishing whatever task we are trying to do. A great tool of the devil TO KEEP US FROM DOING the work of the Lord.
When Nehemiah was led of the Lord to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall around the temple of God, his heart was broken after hearing how bad things were: “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept…I mourned and fasted and prayed…Then I said: “LORD…the great and awesome God…let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night…” (Nehemiah 1:4-6).
So, Nehemiah received permission from King Artaxerxes (his boss) to go and rebuild the wall. He encouraged the people there to help and is was not long until, “Then the peoples around them set out to 1discourage the people…and make them afraid to go on building.” (Ezra 4:4).
1râphâh: to sink down, to be disheartened. Nehemiah encouraged them to pray this prayer… “Hear us, our God, for we are despised…for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.” (Nehemiah 4:4-5). They were encouraged and “…the wall was finished…in fifty-two days.” (Nehemiah 6:15).
What is amazing is that the wall was 2.5 miles long, the average height was 40 feet and the average thickness 8.2 feet. The walls contained 34 watchtowers and seven main gates open for traffic, with two minor gates. You see NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD. How shall we encourage one another? Well how about this…
“For the Lord, himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore:
ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.” (1 Thess. 4:16-18)
Be blessed and encouraged…Bill Stockham